Inside Small Business | Small Business & Home Business Marketing

Announcing Blog Design by Logoworks

New Blog Design Offerings and Free Templates from Logoworks by HP!

According to a recent survey by Forrester, 24% of companies have considered implementing Web 2.0 initiatives as a priority in 2008 – and 27% of companies are specifically considering creating blogs.⁽¹⁾ As communication has gotten easier and faster with the Internet, it’s no wonder businesses are increasingly looking to become even more interactive with their customers online. Interactive mediums such as blogs provide a great opportunity to keep potential customers informed and engaged on the latest news or hot product while also allowing direct feedback (or public praise!) on ways to improve business.

However, many small businesses and even marketing teams within larger companies face several challenges. They often don’t have the technical knowledge to develop their own blogs and other Web 2.0 programs or aren’t sure where to go for help.

Keeping this in mind, Logoworks by HP has introduced several new affordable and versatile blog design offerings to help businesses ride the Web 2.0 wave and start building customer interactivity and perhaps, even communities. With the new custom blog design packages, businesses can now communicate directly with customers in a more open yet still highly, professionally branded forum that adds a personal touch to any commercial website regardless of the business’ size. Small businesses can now work with Logoworks’ expert graphic designers to affordably create a custom blog that’s as unique as their business. With four different offerings to choose from starting at just $449, businesses on any budget can enjoy a customized blog design that coordinates with their website.

Logoworks by HP also introduced free blog templates allowing companies on shoestring budgets to get in the game and start interacting with their audiences right away. Developed by award-winning designers, the templates run the gamut from fun and whimsical to contemporary and elegantly simple. With such a wide variety of styles, folks will undoubtedly find a template to suit their personality or business.

Additionally, we’ve updated the Logomaker design tool for a dramatically improved logo design experience. Logomaker 2.0, which will be available the week of May 12, delivers an enhanced design experience with a new and improved user interface and updated design choices for the DIY small business owner. Improvements to the user experience include the ability to save favorite icons, enhanced help functionality and stronger search technology to help users find the icon that is right for their business. Also, this enhanced functionality allows small businesses to create a free logo for their website in mere minutes.

For small businesses eager for an introduction into blogging, Logoworks by HP is also hosting a free webinar about business-related blogging on Wednesday, May 7. Chris Baggott, small business expert and successful business blogger and founder of Compendium Blogware, will share his insights about blogging for business purposes. The session will touch on a variety of issues from the basics such as what a business blog is (and can do for businesses) to how to setup and maintain a successful blog.

Through this expanded range of blog design offerings, HP continues to provide small businesses with tools and expertise to help ease the stress and technical knowledge necessary to participate in the rapidly growing Web 2.0 arena and ultimately, better connect with their customers.

For more information about our new blog design offerings, visit www.logoworks.com/free-blog-design. To register for the free Logoworks by HP Blogging Webinar on Wednesday, May 7, visit http://logoworks.com/webinar2/.

Related Topics: Branding, Business, Computers, Design, Entrepreneurship, Internet, Marketing    No Comments    

Computer Problems

David Grenda, Founder, Grenda Computer Consulting

This last month has reminded me of an important issue that I seem to run into with increasing frequency. Namely, companies whose decision makers are very uncomfortable with computers and therefore make it difficult to deal with in establishing a working relationship to resolve their computing problems.

I can always tell when I’ve encountered such a business owner when the first question they ask me before I even have a look at their situation is, “How much is this going to cost me?” These individuals are also the most likely to have neglected their computing environment and have the most serious problems. This is not a good combination for a successful resolution.

Whomever you bring in to assist you will have to spend some time simply looking around at various areas of your environment. They will assess the situation and only then make a recommendation regarding cost or effort. If this step does not take place, then you are dealing with an incompetent consultant.

I know this can be nerve wracking for a business owner who doesn’t understand what the consultant is doing to begin with, so be prepared perhaps to pay for an assessment of the problem and recommendation of what to do before any work is actually done.

The lesson is to remember that your computers are much like a work vehicle you depend on to get your job done. You can drive it all day and never think twice about maintenance until it dies on you at the worst time. If you don’t have a trusted source of technical help to watch over things before they become problems, I’d suggest getting one.

If you would like further guidance in considering the options, feel free to drop me an email at david@grenda.com.

Related Topics: Business, Computers, Entrepreneurship, Internet, Money/Finance    1 Comment